CROSSING ARCTIC CIRCLE, GRIMSEY ISLAND & HUSAVIK, ICELAND DAY 12

Suzanne, glad you are enjoying the Blog. We are on Deck 8 and all suites other than the two largest ones are two suites at a time sharing a common entrance door.  On Deck 7 they all look to be double with the exception of Suite 750 and on Deck 6 they all look like doubles.  I didn't check other decks.  Best to have your TA confirm this.

A nice touch.  Compartment near our suite entranceway  door for our expedition jackets, hats and the waterproof bag from Crystal Cruises and the one we brought from home having sailed Northwest Passage.

Some additional photos of the ship.

Last evening we dined at Umi Uma for the second time of this cruise.  These are the dinner menus from Waterside.

We were taken care of by Sheila, Jay and Emerson at Umi Uma.  We tried some specialties created by the Umi Uma Chefs and Sheila put in an order for Sashimi and Sushi.  We both had salads and then we flip flopped.  No, we didn't change our mind.  We changed our entree.  Keith had the Wagyu Beef for the first time ever which Anne Marie had the other night and Anne Marie had the Chilean Sea Bass Entree which Keith had the other night.  Everything was delicious.  We also closed out the meal with fruit plate for Keith and a Chocolate Soufflé for Anne Marie.

There is a new addition to the Connoisseur Club which is a fire place.  Well not a real one.  This is done with lighting and everywhere you look something is new such as this couch.

The seas were calm as we sailed to our next port of Grimsey.  

These are the daily activities for today.

Keith was up early and did laundry, worked out and went out on the open deck.  It was chilly but the views were spectacular.

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We both enjoyed breakfast in our room.    Keith ended up going on an excursion while Anne Marie stayed on-board while Keith did the Arctic Circle Walkabout.  We thought this was better for Anne Marie so she could avoid the Tender due to her situation and thought the walk would be too much and we were right.

There were three Walkabouts; two were for the Arctic Circle and the other for Grimsey Island.  One was two miles and the other four miles.  Keith took the four mile walkabout.  

​After taking the tender over to Grimsey Island the group was welcomed by one of the Expedition Members and then the person leading our group provided an overview of where we would go.  Keith walked in the front with him and a couple of other guests.  

The walk began on a road but with only 60 full-time residents they didn't have to worry about motor vehicles. Five minutes into the walk the group began walking on paths with a combination of rocks and dirt and we headed towards the cliffs which hug the shoreline.  The rest of the walk was on dirt and grass and also on uneven paths due to the rock.
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The group did see Puffins (yea) and several birds.  Eventually, we saw Shore Excursion Manager Eva-Linn running toward Keith and the group.  Keep that in mind.

There was a good amount of fog and it was cool.  Ironically the leader had said as we walked we would be like an onion wanting to peal clothing off but at one point he added a layer.  You would walk up and down various hills and some of the slopes were at a sharp incline.

Eventually you get to the original monument showing distances to some cities such New York City.   However, each year the Arctic Circle sphere moves in small increments so when you cross the Arctic Circle it is no longer where it was.  They now mark it with a large metal shaped ball.  It is far less impressive.  The hole allows them to put a chain through the balland pull the ball each year with a tractor to mark the new spot.

As Keith and another couple were getting close to the circle there was one sheep between them and the ball.  Thankfully, the sheep moved.  There were a couple of other sheep moving around and one not moving so they weren't sure if it was sleeping or no longer alive.

Keith turned around to make the trek back on his own to the tender drop-off.  Keith thought of Eva-Linn running so he decided to run and ran the entire way back other than one quick stop.  This was when on his way back he saw several people from the group including the guide who one guest fall down and he assisted her along with her husband.  The good news is she was fine.  On his run back he saw several people from the group walking towards the monument.

Keith was the only one on the tender and it would likely be another 45 to 60 minutes or more until the next person got back.

It was a fun tour.  Keith got to speak with several different guests including officially meeting our Endeavor next door members.

Back on the ship Keith changed out of his sweaty clothes and told Anne Marie all about the tour.  

We enjoyed lunch in our room and are enjoying the afternoon on the ship as well.

More tomorrow.

Cheers,

Anne Marie & Keith